Father Jay A. Finelli is a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. He was ordained to the diaconate on June 1, 1991 and to the priesthood on June 13, 1992 at the Cathedral of SS Peter & Paul in Providence by Bishop Louis E. Gelineau. He has served in several parishes and was appointed pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost in Tiverton on July 1, 2002. Fr. Finelli is an avid Live Steam railroad enthusiast, and model railroader. He has built seven Live Steam locomotives and is a member of the Waushakum Live Steamers in Holliston, MA. Father is “insane Mac addict” and technophile. In September of 1995, Father entered the digital age, got online and within a week began building websites. His first two websites were for the Diocese of Providence and his second parish assignment. Since that time, Father has built a number of websites. Ten years later, almost to the day, Fr. Finelli made his next leap in the digital revolution. On September 1, 2005, Father began hosting the iPadre Catholic Podcast and has produced over 388 episodes since that time.
Father Finelli also serves or has served in the following manner:
- Board Member: Meet-the-Father Ministry – 1995 to present
- Chaplain & Board Member: S.Q.P.N. – 2010 to 2014
- Pastor: Holy Ghost Church – 2002 to present
- Chaplain K of C #1528 – E. Providence – 1997 to 2002
- Chaplain K of C #4753 – Tiverton – 2002 to present
- Invested into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem on November 2, 2018
– Promoted to Knight Commander – November 4, 2022
You can find Father’s podcasts, blog, videos links to his online social networks at iPadre.net.
Father Finelli’s Coat of Arms
An explanation of Father’s coat of arms:
My Motto in Latin: “Via, Veritas, Vita” from Gospel of St. John “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” Jn 14:6 We are all called to an intense union with Our Lord. Once we come to that union with Jesus, He leads us to and intense love for, and union with the Father.
Background of the shield are red and white, faith and hope on which is based my ministry.
At the center of the shield is a Monstrance. The very center of my life and ministry is Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, fruit of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He is my reason for being. I am, because He IS. To the bottom right is a star representing Our Lady, my spiritual mother. She led me to my vocation and sustains it by leading me with her example, strengthening me with her love, and encouraging me with her hope. To the left are three silver crosses that come from the shield of my diocese. They represent my home, and my call to service in the Diocese of Providence. At the bottom of the shield are two waves representing my faith. They also represent my home state of Rhode Island, the “Ocean State.”
Hanging from the bottom of the shield is the Jerusalem Cross, representing my belonging to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Some of Father Finelli’s websites: